Title and statement of responsibility area
Title proper
Dr. Ralph A. Williams fonds
General material designation
- Textual record
Parallel title
COA180
Other title information
Title statements of responsibility
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Level of description
Item
Repository
Reference code
Edition area
Edition statement
Edition statement of responsibility
Class of material specific details area
Statement of scale (cartographic)
Statement of projection (cartographic)
Statement of coordinates (cartographic)
Statement of scale (architectural)
Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)
Dates of creation area
Date(s)
Physical description area
Physical description
75 cm textual ledgers, mostly consisting of bound volumes
Publisher's series area
Title proper of publisher's series
Parallel titles of publisher's series
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Numbering within publisher's series
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Archival description area
Name of creator
Biographical history
The son of Dr. Joseph Arthur Williams and Eleanor Fullerton (nee), Dr. Ralph Arthur Williams was born in Ingersoll, Ontario on April 29, 1881. He attended public school and high school in Ingersoll, before attending the Toronto Faculty of Medicine, where he graduated in 1906. He later took a post-graduate course in obstetrics at Johns-Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. He returned to Ingersoll to practice with his father, whom sadly passed away in 1910, and carried on the practice, at 223 Thames Street South, until he retired due to ill health in 1952. Following the death of his father, he worked with Dr. Harry Garrett Furlong of Ingersoll, and for a short time, Dr. Norman Bethune, whom in fact, took his place in 1919 while Dr. Williams was on vacation. In addition to his private practice, he was one of the medical practitioners in town who was instrumental in the erection of Alexandria Hospital, where he also worked.
On September 3, 1913, he married Constance Jackson Lewis, in New York City. They would have two sons; Jackson Williams born on September 2, 1914 and Ralph Arthur (Peter) Williams Jr. born on January 2, 1917. Sadly, their son Jack would pass away on April 4, 1928 at the age of thirteen, and his wife would pass away a few years later, following a prolonged illness, on June 27, 1936. On May 16, 1945 he married Velma Anne Hughes, who had two sons from a pervious marriage; Ronald H. Sage and F/O William A. Sage.
Dr. R.A. Williams was an ardent sports fan being particularly interested in baseball, and served as President of the Ingersoll Hockey Club, when they were champions of Groups 4, 8 & 9 Intermediate Series O.H.A. in 1908-1909. “[H]is kindly and friendly nature won him countless friends, old and young alike, in all walks of life. Keenly interested in all phases of community life he was always ready to lend a helping hand and encouragement, especially to the young.” – Ingersoll Tribune, March 10, 1960.
A member Trinity United Church, Dr. Ralph Arthur Williams passed away at his home on March 8, 1960 and is buried in the Ingersoll Rural Cemetery.
Custodial history
The records were originally created by Dr. Ralph Arthur Williams of Ingersoll. Following his death in 1960, the records were eventually donated to the Archives at Western University. In November 2022, Western Archives deaccessioned these materials to the Oxford County Archives.
Scope and content
The fonds consists of records related to the medical career of Dr. Ralph A. Williams. They are arranged into the following series:
Series 1: Patient Prescription Payment Ledgers
Series 2: Cash Books and receipts
Series 3: Patient Call Book
Series 4: CorrespondenceNotes area
Physical condition
Some of the early bound ledgers are in poor condition with fragile spines. Many have issues with red rot. Please handle with care when accessing.
Immediate source of acquisition
The Oxford County Archives received the records from Western Archives in November 2022.
Arrangement
Language of material
- English
Script of material
Location of originals
Availability of other formats
Restrictions on access
The fonds is open to publish research. However, please contact the archivist responsible for the records regarding access, as some materials may be too fragile to handle. The Archives will make every effort to supply reference copies where feasible.
Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication
Copyright is held by the archives. Researchers are responsible for observing copyright regulations that may apply to the publication of their research. If you wish to publish any of this material, please contact the archivist responsible for the records.
The Archivist has the right to restrict reproduction if the material is in a fragile condition.
Finding aids
A detailed finding aid is available for researchers. Please contact Archives staff for further information.
Associated materials
Accruals
No further accruals are expected.
Alternative identifier(s)
Standard number area
Standard number
COA180
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Williams, Joseph Arthur (Dr.) (Subject)
- Furlong, Harry Garrett (Dr.) (Subject)
- Alexandra Hospital (Subject)